Inspirational Movies to watch as a Family

When our children were younger, we watched ‘Pay it Forward’ as a family. My memory of the film was that it had a great principle that I wanted to introduce my kids to, so I thought I would do it by showing the movie. Unfortunately, I didn’t do due diligence and my children often used to joke with me afterwards about how I had let them watch a M rated movie at a young age. I quickly learnt to check movies out before we watched them as a family.

Our children are now Princess (nearly 15) and Matey (12). They love watching movies so we often find ourselves as a family watching a movie together as a family. I love inspirational movies and movies that are based on real life and biographies. I have listed below the movies that we have seen as a family that I would recommend.

Our family love watching a lot of movies about World War 2 and other historical events for history value. As a family we also watch a number of (what we consider) appropriate war movies and murder series which I haven’t listed here as not every family would find them suitable.

I hope you find some new movies in this list that your family can enjoy. Please comment below if you know any movies not listed which you would consider great for families and suitable for us. I am always looking out for new movies. There are several coming up that will be out on DVD soon and our family is eagerly awaiting their release.

Disclaimer:

  • Please note that my children are teenagers/tween and are not toddlers etc.
  • I also cannot claim that these movies will be all according to your standards.
  • It is your responsibility to check each individual movie before you watch it.

I use the following websites to check out the movies:

Based on Real Life / Biographies:

  • A Courageous Heart (M) – Irena Sendler
  • Amazing Grace (PG) – William Wilberforce and John Newton
  • Anne Frank (NR) – the whole story
  • Bamboo in Winter (NR) – Events in China
  • Boy Chair (PG 2012 version) – boy’s reaction to mysterious outbreak of poisonous mould
  • Can’t Keep Me Down (NR) – Bobby DuCharme
  • Carry Me Home – Harriet Tubman
  • Catch Me If You Can (PG13) – Frank Abagnale JNR
  • Chariots of Fire (PG) – Eric Liddell
  • China Cry (M) – Nora Lam
  • Cry Freedom (PG) – Steve Biko
  • Eddie the Eagle (PG-13+) – Michael Edwards
  • Eight Below (PG) – Antarctic Expedition
  • Everest (M) – Rob Hall & Scott Fisher
  • Freedom Writers (PG-13) – Erin
  • Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (PG) – Ben Carson
  • Heaven is for Real (PG) – Todd Burpo and son Colton
  • Hidden Figures (PG) – Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan & Mary Jackson
  • Jesus Film
  • I am David (PG)
  • Lion (PG) – Saroo
  • Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (PG-13+) – Nelson Mandela
  • Miracle (PG) – Herb Brooks
  • Mother Teresa (PG) – Mother Teresa
  • Night Crossing (PG) – Balloon Escape from East Germany
  • Not Without My Daughter (PG 13+)- Betty Mahmoody
  • October Sky (PG) – Homer Hickam
  • One Night with the King (Esther) (PG)
  • Power of One (PG 13)
  • Rabbit Proof Fence (PG) – Molly Craig
  • Race (PG 13) – Jesse Owen
  • Reach for the Sky (NR) – Douglas Bader
  • Remember the Titans (PG) –  football team
  • Return to the Hiding Place (M) – Corrie Ten Boom
  • Soul Surfer (PG) – Bethany Hamilton
  • The Blind Side (PG) – Leigh Anne Tuohy & Michael Oher
  • The Climb (NR 15+) – Nadir Dendoune (in French with subtitles)
  • The Diary of Anne Frank (NR) – Anne Frank
  • The Dish (PG13) – Australia’s role in 1st man on the moon
  • The Fifth Quarter (M) – Luke Abbate
  • The Flying Scotsman (PG 13) – Graeme Obree
  • The Good Lie (PG 13) – The Lost Boys of Sudan
  • The Great Escape (PG) – Stalag Luft North
  • The Greatest Showman (PG) – P.T. Barnum
  • The Hiding Place (PG) – Corrie Ten Boom
  • The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (G) – Gladys Aylward
  • The King’s Speech (M) – King George VI
  • The Man Who Knew Infinity (PG) – Srinivasa Ramanujan
  • The Queen of Katwe (PG) – Phiona Mutesi (chess champion)
  • The Torchlighters Heroes of Faith Series (NR)
  • The Walk (PG) – Philippe Petit
  • The World’s Fastest Indian (PG) – Burt Munro

Inspirational movies

  • All Saints (PG)
  • America – the story of us (M) – history of America
  • Ann of Avonlea (NR)
  • Anne of Green Gables (NR)
  • August Rush (PG)
  • Australia – The Story of Us (PG) – history of Australia DVD
  • Battle of Britain – history
  • Cadet Kelly (G)
  • Champions (G)
  • Cheaper by the Dozen (PG)
  • Christmas Grace (NR)
  • Cool Runnings (G)
  • Courageous (PG-13)
  • Dead Poets Society (PG)
  • Fireproof (PG)
  • Fly Away Home (PG)
  • Freedom Writers (M)
  • Frontier House (PG) – history
  • Heart of a Hero (PG)
  • Hunt for the Wilderpeople
  • Joshua (PG)
  • Legally Blonde (PG 13)
  • Life is Beautiful (M)
  • Little Women (G)
  • Man from Snowy River (PG)
  • Max (PG)
  • Mercy Rule (G)
  • Mr Holland’s Opus (PG)
  • My Big Fat Greek Wedding 1 & 2 (G)
  • My Sisters Keeper (PG-13)
  • Not Today (PG)
  • Old Fashioned (G)
  • Oliver Twist (PG)
  • Patch Adams (PG 13)
  • Pay it Forward (PG 13)
  • Red Dog (PG)
  • Reggie’s Prayer (NR)
  • Ring the Bell (G)
  • Seven Wonders of the Industrial World – history
  • Sister Act (PG)
  • Storm Boy (NR)
  • The Bridge over River Kwai (PG)
  • The Hundred Foot Journey (PG)
  • The Little Princess (PG)
  • The Man in the Iron Mask (PG 13)
  • The Princess Diaries 1&2 (G)
  • The Sound of Music (G)
  • Treasures of the Snow (NR)
  • War Room (PG)

3 thoughts on “Inspirational Movies to watch as a Family

  1. Michelle Lin

    Thanks for a really comprehensive movie list!
    I’m often at a loss when my kids want to see a movie. … so this will come in very handy.

  2. Michelle Lin

    Also another good family friendly movie reviewing website that I’ve just subscribed to is movieguide.org

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